CP

Christian Charities Help Villagers Displaced by Floods in India

Monsoon rains and widespread flooding have displaced more than a million people in India, creating a dire situation for those affected and spurring action by those committed to helping those who desperately need it.

The states hardest hit by the unrelenting rains have been the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which have been soaked for the past 19 days. The monsoon has resulted in the failure of dykes and embankments throughout the region, leading to the massive flooding.

This particular season has been fierce since it began in June, with rain amounts reaching levels not seen in nearly three decades. So far this season 34 people have been killed and more than 700 villages have been washed away, which led to the large number of people being displaced.

But villagers in India have welcomed aid that several Christian organizations knew they so desperately needed. While the rising water levels may be survivable, the health dangers produced by such events unfortunately are not.

Issues with sanitation, clean drinking water and hygiene needs for so many people are being met with donations from Christian Aid and their partners.

Christian Aid has sent more than $50,000 to their partners in the Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts of North East Assam, which will be able to help the residents of more than 100 villages.

Other Christian Aid partners such as the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Humanitarian Office (ECHO) have provided more than $300,000 to provide for the humanitarian aid for people in the region for the next six months.

Christian Aid's partners in the region, the Rural Volunteers Centre (RVC) and Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development (SEEDS), have been distributing hygiene and water testing kits, while replacing and repairing community bathrooms and installing hand pumps.

"Flooding began again last week with a majority of rivers and tributaries flowing over the danger mark on Sunday," Ram Kishan, Christian Aid's regional emergency manager for South Asia, told Evangelical Alliance.

"This has added to the already existing human agony caused by the on-going ethnic conflict situation which has forced communities to flee to relief camps across the state," he added.

Sadly, many of the thousands of families who have been able to return home have once again been forced to flee. The region has long been marred by severe fighting between ethnic and religious minorities.